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Archives: May 2003 |
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5/24/03 |
 Gathering
for the Assembly:
reports from Saturday, May 24 |
 The Rev. Susan Andrews has been
elected as moderator of the 215th General Assembly. She
was elected on the second ballot by a vote of 269, to 179 for the
Rev. Harold Kurtz and 64 for the Rev. James Reese.
We've added
details on the candidates' statements and answers to questions,
and Susan Andrews' further comments in a press conference after her
election. |
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5/23/03 |
Gathering
for the Assembly:
reports from Friday, May 23 |
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Semper Reformanda
conversation kicks off the week
A justice-oriented church in Brazil, and tensions in
the PC(USA), form the themes of the discussion |
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Commissioner orientation brings
people together, looks at issues As
commissioners began arriving today for tomorrow's convening of the
215th General Assembly, the Witherspoon Society provided
a gathering-point for progressive advocacy groups and sympathetic
commissioners to meet and "talk politics." |
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"What Will I Leave" A lighter (or perhaps deeper!) moment was
added to the Witherspoon Commissioner's orientation this evening as Si
Kahn a folk singer from Charlotte, NC, stepped forward to sing one of his
songs. The song was moving enough that three or four people asked me
to post the lyrics here as soon as possible.
So,
with Si's gracious permission, here's the song we shared tonight.
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5/22/03 |
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The
2003 General Assembly |
| Well, here we are, warmly welcomed
by friendly Denver Presbyterians at the airport and at our hotel. If you're
in Denver and have observations to share, or you're not here and have
concerns or opinions, please let us hear from you!
Just send a
note! |
| A
thoughtful defense of "Living Faithfully with Families in Transition"
Dr. Gloria Albrecht, who served as a consultant to the
committee that drafted "Living Faithfully with Families in Transition,"
offers a careful, reasoned response to criticisms leveled by Dr. Don
Browning and his colleagues in the Marriage Movement.
We also have a
comment from Dr Barbara Gaddis, who chaired the writing committee. |
| Support for
Witherspoon support of Overture 03-07 In
the less than 24 hours since it was posted, the
Witherspoon Society statement
supporting the Des Moines overture, which calls for the deletion of
G-6.0106b from the Book of Order, has drawn many supportive comments.
We're happy to share a sampling
of them here. |
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5/21/03 |
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Washington Office suggests:
Stop US development of "usable"
nuclear weapons |
Jensen sues Abu-Akel for slander in civil
court;
Moderator asks for vindication
Presbyterian Outlook reports
that Paul Rolf Jensen, the lawyer who has filed more than 20 disciplinary
cases in the courts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), now has filed a
civil lawsuit in California against a top Presbyterian leader -- suing
Fahed Abu-Akel, moderator of the PC(USA)'s 214th General
Assembly, for slander. In response to
Jensen's lawsuit, Abu-Akel has filed a request for vindication with
Greater Atlanta Presbytery, of which he is a member.
In March, Witherspooners began gathering notes of
support for Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel as he faced a trial instigated by Mr.
Jensen and others. You may want to
add your note of support even
now, as he faces yet another round of trial. |
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5/19/03 |
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Trina Zelle calls PHEWA folks to heed Isaiah's call to
do a really new thing in the world
-- a sermon on Isaiah 58:6-12
For the closing worship service at the conference of the
Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association, held this past
January in San Antonio, TX, the Rev. Trina Zelle was the preacher. Her
sermon was mentioned by many as one of the high points of the event, and
we're happy to share it here. |
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Washington Office urges
U.S. to put Iraq humanitarian assistance and reconstruction under U.N.
control
In a lengthy policy paper, the
Presbyterian Washington Office
points out some of the problems and dangers in a US occupation of Iraq,
and argues that "the U.N. provides the most effective mechanism to infuse
the postwar order with a semblance of legitimacy and minimize the
potential for a violent backlash from the population."
The paper offers
suggestions for action,
and cites numerous
statements from past PC(USA) General Assemblies affirming the role of
the UN as a peacemaker. |
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Web Sites for Parents, Christian Educators, and Pastors
Christian Family Week ended on Saturday (May 17). But
presumably families will continue, in one form or another. In support of
Christian Family Week, Bruce & Carolyn Winfrey Gillette have updated Freda
Gardner's ecumenical resource for teaching parenting skills in churches
with a helpful list to over 30 web sites on academic centers for family
ministry, spiritual disciplines for families, online devotionals, Bible
games for children, children's health, parent advice, advocacy groups and
much more:
http://www.firstpresby.org/ResourcesForFamilies.htm |
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Yum! hears
from Taco Bell protesters
Tomato pickers are
joined by Presbyterians in a protest at the headquarters of the parent
company of Taco Bell. |
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5/17/03 |
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Pre-GA conversation: Is this a time of crisis or of call for the
Presbyterian Church?
The 9th Annual Semper Reformanda Pre-GA Conversation will
take place of Friday, May 23, from 1 to 4 PM at the Adams Mark Hotel.
Barbara Wheeler, President of Auburn Seminary, New York, NY, and Jack
Haberer, pastor of Clear Lake Church, Houston, TX. They will be joined by
representatives of the United
Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU), to discuss whether we've outgrown
decency and order and what can be done to heal the broken Body of Christ
that we all love.
Get more details
on the conversation.
For background:
A paper given by Barbara Wheeler at Fuller Seminary,
entitled "Turn Back: Hopes and Fears
for the Presbyterian Future" is available on this website.
Jack Haberer has recently published two thoughtful
essays in Presbyterian Outlook:
"Constitutional
Crisis or Connectional Conundrum?" in the October 14th
issue, and
"Evangelicals on the Ockenga Trail," from Feb. 10, 2003. |
| Analyzing the
issues
Here's a quick index to variety of reviews of issues coming to the General
Assembly:
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On the Des Moines
overture
The "Three Sisters" (More
Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and The Shower of Stoles
Project) has issued a statement setting forth their reasons for supporting
the Des Moines overture for the removal of G-6.0106b from the Book of
Order. |
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Prof. Rosemary Radford Ruether suggests "organizing themes
for a new stage of the peace movement in the context of the US military
occupation of Iraq" In
a reflection paper
issued in April as US forces gained control of Iraq, Ruether listed
five themes the peace movement should pursue now:
 | acknowledging that the people of Iraq are benefitting
from the removal of an oppressive dictator - but keeping people aware of
our government's cozy relationships with many other dictators, past and
present; |
| reminding people that "weapons of mass destruction" -
the pretext for the war - have not been found, while urging that all
WMDs, including our vast arsenal, must be destroyed; |
| returning attention to the fate of the Palestinian
people as the Bush administration continues to side with the government
of Israel; |
| continuing a focus on American's long-term intentions
for dominating the Middle East; |
| exposing "the costs of American militarism and
national security policies to American democracy and social welfare."
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5/14/03 |
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More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve
offer recommendations on GA business The two
groups, committed advocates for full inclusion of lgbt people in the life
and leadership of the Presbyterian Church, are cooperating to provide
coverage for the 215th General Assembly.
More Light Presbyterians offers an
analysis of a variety of
issues, both related to glbt concerns and more general justice issues
-- along with helpful recommendations.
The More Light site also lists
events planned by the "Three
Sisters" - More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and
the Shower of Stoles.
Updates and
news from the Assembly will be provided on the TAMFS website.
And, of course, you will find lots of news right here on
Witherspoon's own website, as well as on many others. |
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Jensen shifts accusations from
sexuality to doctrine: a new case Attorney
Paul Rolf Jensen has expanded his interests to file accusations against a
minister not on the stated basis of homosexuality, as in his many earlier
charges, but on the basis of "heresy."
As reported by The Layman Online, Mr. Jensen
wants to prevent the installation in June of the Rev. W. Robert Martin
III, as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto, California.
The Palo Alto session has issued
a response to Mr.
Jensen's charges, which also provides information on the congregation
itself, and about Mr. Martin. |
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Participants sought for
new PC(USA) team to revise church's policy on energy
The Advisory Committee on Social Witness
Policy (ACSWP) invites nominations of people to serve on a new resolution
team charged with revising the denominational policy on energy.
The
mandate for this work comes from an action taken by the 214th General
Assembly (2002) (See Item 12-06 cited below).
If you know of persons who have expertise
on this subject, please encourage them to
complete the Nomination Form and
send it to the attention of Belinda Curry,
bcurry@ctr.pcusa.org, by June
15, 2003. |
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5/13/03 |
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A special note to GA commissioners and Witherspoon members
The special pre-Assembly issue of Network News was
sent to all Witherspoon members, and to all commissioners, about three
weeks ago. A bit of confusion at our mailing service delayed its
delivery to the Post Office until a week ago. But the newsletter is
now on its way, some have already received it ... and we hope you will
too!
If you're a commissioner and arrive at the Assembly
without receiving your copy, please stop by the Witherspoon booth in the
Exhibit Hall, and we'll give you another one free. |
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The current budget cuts being considered in Congress
threaten many programs that are consistent with Christian concerns for
justice and the common welfare of all our people
MoveOn is urging concerned citizens to contact their
Senators, calling on them to resist the "disastrous tax and budget cuts"
being demanded by the President.
You can
read more on
their web site, and send a fax from there while you're at it. |
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The Presbyterian Washington Office provides a critical
viewpoint on House-passed bill that would allow for
federal funding of religious
discrimination in job-training programs |
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The
Covenant Network has set forth its recommendations for commissioners'
actions during the coming General Assembly.
While they urge strong support of the church's making
"full use of the gifts of clergywomen," their recommendation on Overture
03-7 from the Presbytery of Des Moines, which would move toward making
full use of the gifts of lesbian and gay persons called to ministry, is
"not yet."
Just added:
A response of
sadness to Covenant Network on the Des Moines overture
The Rev. Charles Booker-Hirsch, Designated Pastor of
Northside Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, MI, responds to the Covenant
Network's decision not to support the Des Moines overture to remove
G-6.0106b from the Book of Order.
He is a member of the board of More Light Presbyterians,
and was a prisoner of conscience, September through December 2002, in a
federal prison camp, for crossing the line at the U.S. Army School of the
Americas.
Let us hear your comments on the differing views
of the Des Moines overture.
Just send a note!
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The Re-Imagining conference,
set for June 19-21, 2003, in St. Paul, MN, will celebrate the 10th
Anniversary of the first Re-Imagining gathering. The theme will be
"Generations of Wisdom: From the spring, to the river, to the ocean, we
are all one body of water." |
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5/10/03 |
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The 215th GA
Sorting out the Issues
[posted 5-5-03, updated 5-10-03 with links
to differing strategy statements from More
Light Presbyterians and the
Covenant Network regarding G-6.0106b, and
a statement on the Detroit overture
protesting Chevrolet's sponsorship of a "a fundamentalist Christian music
and preaching tour."]
Witherspoon Issues Analyst Gene TeSelle considers the
variety of issues that will be facing the 215th General Assembly -- both
those coming officially as overtures or reports, and the unofficial but
very important ongoing issues within the PC(USA).
Some of the more talked-about issues include:
But we hope you'll
take a look at the whole thing!
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Witherspoon
history now available You may be lying awake nights
wondering ...
What is this Witherspoon
Society?
Or maybe you're a long-time member, wanting to retrace
the life of an organization that you've supported for years.
Either way, you'll learn much from the new history of
the Witherspoon Society, just completed by Gene TeSelle.
The title:
"A Network of the Concerned":
the Witherspoon Society
and its Challenge to the Church
It covers the 30 years of Witherspoon's involvement in
service and witness in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
How to get a copy:
You can buy a copy at the Witherspoon booth at General
Assembly.
Or contact Gene TeSelle:
| Send an e-mail to
teselle@bellsouth.net |
| or write to him at 2007 Linden Avenue, Nashville, TN
37212, |
| or call him at (615) 297-2629. |
Cost: $5.00 each. |
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5/8/03 |
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New Jersey church prepares to stand against zoning ban on
social ministries
Last Monday, May 5, we posted
a call for supportive prayers
from First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, NJ, as their social ministry
through a food pantry and a counseling service were being challenged by
their local zoning board.
Thanks to the Rev. Bruce Gillette for this update:
The First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, NJ, is very grateful for the many
prayers for our church and the email notes of support.
The Pitman Zoning Board voted on May 6th to finalize its
earlier decision to tell our congregation that we may no longer continue
an ecumenical food pantry and counseling services in a house owned by our
church. We believe their action violates numerous state, federal and
constitutional laws.
Our Session and Deacons have decided to continue these
ministries (feeding the poor and helping the troubled are what churches
are called to do) even if legal action is taken against our church by the
Borough. We are grateful to the Rev. Dean Waldt for his prayers and
encouraging his law firm to support our church.
We ask for your prayers for many families and
individuals we serve with the food pantry and counseling services, our
church and five other congregations that support these shared ministries,
the handful of neighbors who oppose these ministries and the Zoning Board.
Background information is now available
on our church web
site.
The local paper, the Gloucester County Times, carried
a report on 5-8-03.
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5/5/03 |
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Prayers requested
for a church's freedom for ministry
Bruce Gillette, who with his wife and co-pastor has
often contributed material to this website, asks prayers for his
congregation, First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, NJ, as the zoning board
in their community reconsiders its action forbidding their congregation to
provide space for an ecumenical food pantry and counseling services in a
house owned by the church. |
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The 215th GA
Sorting out the Issues
Witherspoon Issues Analyst Gene TeSelle considers the
variety of issues that will be facing the 215th General Assembly -- both
those coming officially as overtures or reports, and the unofficial but
very important ongoing issues within the PC(USA).
Some of the more talked-about issues include:
But we hope you'll
take a look at the whole thing!
NOTE:
This is also published in the current Spring issue of Network News,
on its way now to Witherspoon members and to all General Assembly
commissioners. |
Another report from Colombia:
Our
Money, Their Livesa special
report from Jane Hanna, former president of the Witherspoon Society
We have already posted
one report from the Witness for
Peace delegation - co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
and the Witherspoon Society - that visited war-torn Colombia in March of
2003. Jane Hanna, former Witherspoon president, adds details to our
understanding of the impact of the U.S. "war on drugs," now morphed into
the "war on terrorism," on the ordinary people whose livelihoods - and
lives - are increasingly threatened. |
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The
war against Iraq |
Religious
leaders continue expressing concern about war, occupation of Iraq
| Interfaith leaders call for end to U.S. occupation
in Iraq |
Religious leaders from across the nation met in Chicago
on April 30, and called for the United States to end its military
occupation of Iraq and to avoid first-strike wars in the future.
"The United States can and must exercise global
leadership in pursuit of peace, dignity and justice for all persons," said
Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches,
following an interfaith summit he organized.
The Chicago Tribune reports on the gathering and the statement they
issued. [Registration is required to enter the Tribune's
website, but there is no charge.]
| Antiwar activists are rethinking, but will keep
working |
Religion News Service reports on the determination of other religious
leaders to continue their work against what they see as an overextension
of American power abroad. [Registration is required for this website
too, but there is no charge.]
Ronald Sider, head of Evangelicals for Social Action,
says the crucial question for Americans in the coming decade will be "What
kind of lone superpower are we going to be?"
And the Catholic group Pax Christi in a recent statement
has called on religious Americans to "reassess the role of the United
States in the world. Are we a force for good, for justice and peace, or
are we perpetrating and deepening the cycle of violence we claim to be
fighting?"
Jim Wallis of the Sojourners Community noted that "it's
Pax Americana, and such a policy of dominance ultimately costs too much
and violates our core values." Merely opposing that will not be enough, he
added; opponents of the policy must offer concrete, specific alternatives,
it they are to achieve any success in resisting the new American hegemony. |
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Liberal pastor retires after long ministry in Pittsburgh
The Rev. John McCall is retiring from his 33-year pastorate
at Sixth Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers a thoughtful look at the ministry
of a "liberal pastor" of a More Light congregation, where the Rev. Fred
(Mister) Rogers and his family worshiped.
Even in predominantly conservative Pittsburgh
Presbytery, McCall has maintained good relationships with his colleagues.
The Rev. Doug Pratt, pastor of Memorial Park Presbyterian Church in
McCandless and a vocal opponent of gay ordination, is quoted as saying
"I've never found him to be one to try to stir up contention. ... I sense
in him an integrity and sincerity. I have nothing but admiration for him
personally."
And McCall said in the interview that he doesn't believe
in maligning those he disagrees with: "I've always cautioned people who
are my allies in this cause that the other side is not the enemy." |
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If you like what
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we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
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Some blogs worth visiting |
|
PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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